The mayor of Villa de Ingenuity assures that the recovery is palpable and is and will be determined by the destiny of the south of Gran Canaria
The mayor of Villa de Ingenio, Ana Hernández, positively values the municipal recovery after the health crisis derived from Covid-19. "At the local level, the first thermometer is the citizen attention that we have weekly, and the change that has occurred in the pandemic is notable," he says. After Covid-19, "between 10 and 20 people attended these appointments and 90% were for apply for a job while now 2 or 3 do so” and furthermore, “in different conditions, in this case more due to difficulties in obtaining a job itself than because of the pandemic.” “The employment problem has been reduced, and it is that for Ingenio the south is very important, because it practically depends on the service sector", in addition to the airport activity that is key for taxi drivers, and for the 95 licenses that operate now and spent months "without economic contribution due to the tourist closure of the south ".
"Everything that affects the south affects the municipality," the mayor assured, and that the residents of Ingenio are related or linked in some way with the south and everything that affects the lack of tourism, supposes a reduction in jobs or ERTE and therefore "the economic difficulties of the municipality will expand and it is something that is noticeable in the Villa." The employment data is positive regarding Social Security registrations, she celebrates, which are higher than in the same month as before the pandemic. "There is movement, companies either grow or hire staff."
The concern about this link between the south and the municipality is “worrying”, and it must be emphasized that this is a safe environment so that "people lose their fear of coming, in relation to Covid and even more so in this case of the Ómicrom variable, which is a greater detriment due to our proximity to Africa.”
Christmas in Ingenio has perspectives that are linked to this Covid perspective, although internally "the effort is great" and a leisure and festive program will be held that "generates employment in the world of culture and event organization, assembly or in security control, hostesses and support hostesses..." In this sense, he said, "there are several safe points such as fairs, with specific spaces, in addition to performances, theater, for a special Christmas program with which "People are encouraged, safely, complying with the rules and security measures."
The goal is for this Christmas to be "lived, but safely." As mentioned, work is already underway on the Three Kings Parade, thanks to a wide and safe avenue that allows attendees to gather.
The Christmas programming thinks about employment and the activation of the municipal economy because it is key for the mayor, as she confesses. "There are some businesses that unfortunately have closed their doors permanently, but it is not the generality." In this sense, the express terraces are maintained so that the restaurant businesses do not fall, and "it has worked", he applauded. There are also "initiatives such as Gastromusic and the Thursday tapas route with Canarian music and groups from the municipality", that seek to "support businesses and their activity", which is added to the financial aid that already exceeds 170.000 euros.
"There is no prospect that there will be a serious unemployment problem in Ingenio at this time, at least not because of the pandemic." Before the health crisis, "there were about 4.000 unemployed people and we will be on the same line, but on the path of good work, with employment, training and aid plans." In this way, "we hope that this will not be noticeable." both the tremendous drop that occurred with the pandemic.”
The mayor of Ingenio, Ana Hernández, has valued employment as a lever to save the crisis. At this time, the municipality's plans are focused on training and experience with specific programs, also designed for unemployed groups over 55 years of age and especially women.
"In Spain and endemically, these older people have problems reaching the labor market, and this problem is very important in the case of women." This is not because of the pandemic, it was already happening before the arrival of Covid-19. "From the mayor's office and the area councils, they are working on a line of making specific employment plans for this problem of the municipality and which is widespread." These programs for men over 55, or women over 40, among other groups, are progress and in this sense, he said, “training plans are very important to alleviate chronic unemployment.”
The good work of the municipality, with 90% insertion in employment programs, is a boost for this type of policies. In the coming months, the first mayor said, Ingenio's PFAEs and employment plans may add up to 11."
Looking to the future, the councilor pointed out, "the municipality will have a very busy year" because after the stoppage of the health crisis, "everything is moving along, and the projects that have been paralyzed due to the pandemic are going to be carried out in these months, according to deadlines and times."
As highlighted, the municipality of Villa de Ingenio will host the first homes at the beginning of the year within the EDUSI in the coming months, and this is just one of the projects underway, which also includes the completion of the Buen park stage. Event, the hours of the southern Burrero, the work of the Aromeros pass to avoid flooding problems in the event of heavy rain, and work is being done to complete the work of the Day Stay Center, the Illusion Park, and the the residence.
Furthermore, Ana Hernández has pointed out that work is already underway to improve the connection to the GC-1, which although it will not be "in the immediate future" since it requires a study first, "there is a commitment." Likewise, the Casino that was transferred to the Ingenio City Council will be rehabilitated, and work is being done on the Carrizal civic center, among other projects.
As he has highlighted, of the projects that the pandemic paralyzed, there will be an important takeoff in the coming months, since at this moment there are many of them already underway and some are also finishing.